The complaint alleging non-observance is filed
A complaint can be filed about ineffective observance of any ratified Convention.
The Office receives the complaint by member States
The Office receives the complaint by a member State.
The Governing Body may refer the complaint to a COI
The Governing Body has latitude in deciding how a complaint will be treated.
The COI examines the complaint
Each COI establishes its own working methods for examining a complaint and prepares a report with findings and recommendations.
The CFA examines the complaint
Complaints referred to the CFA are treated according to the CFA procedures, and reported upon to the Governing Body as such, with follow-up by the CEACR as appropriate.
The COI report is published and actions are required
Once the report of a COI is published, actions are required on it.
The Governing Body may recommend action to the International Labour Conference
The Governing Body may recommend action to the International Labour Conference when a government fails to implement recommendations of a COI or the ICJ.
Follow-up of complaint through regular supervision
The implementation of the recommendations of a COI falls under the mandate of the regular supervisory bodies.
Consideration of a complaint can take from several months to several years.
Complaints are treated by the Governing Body at its discretion. For example, a complaint case brought by delegates to the International Labour Conference could be closed by referral to the CFA within months after it is lodged. Alternatively, a complaint can remain pending for years subject to developments that are followed by the Governing Body. Click to see the list of complaints by status in the NORMLEX database.
The average investigation of a complaint by a COI is about 19 months.
